Speedy trial demanded in Philippine massacre

Maguindanao provincial Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu points at mug shots of suspects during a press conference at Camp Crame police headquarters in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. The Philippine Police said they will seek the help of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, local government leaders and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines to facilitate the speedy arrest of the 92 remaining at large suspects in the massacre of 57 people in southern Maguindanao province in 2009. Mangudadatu's wife and relatives were among those killed. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Relatives and supporters of 58 people massacred in the Philippines in the country’s worst election violence have held protest marches to mark the third anniversary of the carnage to demand speedy trial for nearly 200 suspects and an end to political killings.

The protesters carried mock coffins to represent the victims, including 32 media workers, of the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre as well as dozens of other journalists killed in the Philippines since 1986.

Harry Roque, a lawyer for the victims, said Friday he is pushing to shift focus of the trial to members of a powerful political clan that allegedly masterminded the massacre instead of waiting for the presentation of the evidence for multiple murder against all the accused before the verdict on the defendants is handed down.